DRINKING WATER
Testing For Yesterday's Water In A PFAS World
Relying on assumptions when designing water treatment systems creates unnecessary financial and operational risks. Adopting predictive modeling and data-driven testing provides the precise, actionable insights required to optimize performance, manage costs, and ensure compliance.
DRINKING WATER CASE STUDIES AND WHITE PAPERS
-
![recycling sign.jpg]( "Reassessing The Value Of Water Reuse In Process Efficiency")
Reassessing The Value Of Water Reuse In Process EfficiencyIn many industrial applications, water is not part of the final product but an important process facilitator — for cooling, cleaning, etc. Like energy, it can quickly become a major expense and, therefore, an important target for cost control. As potable water supplies tighten or become increasingly expensive, reuse is becoming a more attractive alternative. Here is some of the information needed to evaluate the opportunities it offers.
-
![P8152355---Larry-Wilt.jpg]( "What Facility Managers Are Saying About Online Zeta Potential")
What Facility Managers Are Saying About Online Zeta PotentialA chat with Larry Wilt of American Water/Tolt Water Treatment Plant in Seattle, WA gets to the heart of what facility managers have to say about online Zeta potential.
-
![GettyImages-1440717302 drinking glass of water]( "The Unbottled Truth: Navigating The Tap v Bottled Debate")
The Unbottled Truth: Navigating The Tap v Bottled DebateIn this time of heightened environmental conscience and a collective push towards healthier living, the debate over bottled or tap water has evolved from a simple matter of preference to a complex discussion that touches on sustainability, health, and our daily choices.
-
Reconditioned And Rehabbed Filters Succeed At Large Treatment Plant
A large treatment plant includes several treatment processes that contribute to providing quality recycled water pursuant to the state of California Title 22 regulations. Major treatment processes include raw wastewater pumping, preliminary treatment, primary treatment, secondary treatment, tertiary treatment with Parkson DynaSand® filters, and disinfection.
-
![gettyimages-505176828-170667a (1)]( "Sustainable Water Management Solutions")
Sustainable Water Management SolutionsExplore how utilities can deal with non-revenue water, or water that has been produced and is lost before it reaches the customer.
-
Flow Data Red Flags: When To Act
Accurate flow measurement is critical to most water and wastewater processes. Red flags may pop up to indicate meter problems, but which ones should lead you to act — and when? The answer depends on the type of meter, what it is used for, and whether the readings are local or remote.
-
![Nature-Tranquility-iStock-1175009759]( "Achieving Better Balance In The Water-Energy-Climate Nexus")
Achieving Better Balance In The Water-Energy-Climate NexusTrying to balance urban population growth against water scarcity, energy consumption, and greenhouse gases (GHGs) can feel like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. Fortunately, a recent report quantifying that delicate balance offers new perspective on solutions for water professionals.
-
![earthquake]( "Preparing For “The Big One” – Protecting The Nation's Water Infrastructure")
Preparing For “The Big One” – Protecting The Nation's Water InfrastructureWhat can be done to minimize potential losses from an earthquake? One solution is earthquake-resistant water infrastructure. AMERICAN introduced its Earthquake Joint System in 2015. In 2016, a study by Cornell found the system can withstand ground ruptures in excess of those experienced during some of the world’s most catastrophic earthquakes.
-
![ModMag]( "Overcoming Space Constraints For An Accurate Flow Measurement")
Overcoming Space Constraints For An Accurate Flow MeasurementAccurate and reliable flow measurement is critical to many water treatment and distribution applications. However, this can be a dicey proposition because most metering solutions require a set amount of straight pipe runs, before and after the device, to ensure accuracy. To address these and other related issues, an innovative solution has emerged.
-
![holly-springs-NC]( "Minimizing Water Outages With Targeted Valve Control")
Minimizing Water Outages With Targeted Valve ControlThe Town of Holly Springs, NC, used Hydra-Stop's Insta-Valve 250 insertion valves to repair a leak in a transmission line without causing water service outages to over 40 residences. This solution saved the town from widespread outages and other costs associated with a system shutdown, providing better control, cost reduction, and long-term value.
DRINKING WATER APPLICATION NOTES
-
Dissolved Oxygen Measurement11/11/2013
One of the most important measurements in the determination of the health of a body of water is its dissolved oxygen content. The quantity of dissolved oxygen in water is normally expressed in parts per million (ppm) by weight and is due to the solubility of oxygen from the atmosphere around us.
-
Application Note: Turbidity Monitoring In Drinking Water Treatment Plants8/30/2005
Turbidity, or the relative clarity of a liquid (in this case drinking water), is caused by the presence of microscopic particles such as clay, silt, or other fine undissolved matter
-
Drinking Water Testing By Ion Chromatography Using Ultrapure Water9/29/2022
This application note demonstrates the suitability of ultrapure water produced by a Milli-Q IQ 7000 water purification system for the IC analyses of inorganic ions and DBPs in drinking water.
-
Operations And LRV Calculations At Southwest Pipeline Project Drinking Water Treatment Facility4/14/2016
This presentation will discuss the operation of a 4 MGD pressurized two-stage Ultrafiltration (UF) plant over a 14 month period at the Oliver-Mercer-North Dunn (OMND) Drinking Water Treatment Facility, North Dakota.
-
VFD Energy Savings For Pumping Applications4/6/2017
In the early days of variable frequency drive (VFD) technology, the typical application was in process control for manufacturing synthetic fiber, steel bars, and aluminum foil.
-
Secret To Disinfection Monitoring For High Chlorine Residual Wastewater Applications8/2/2015
Some wastewater applications require chlorine residuals greater than can be effectively monitored using DPD due to the oxidation of the Wurster dye to a colorless Imine. Such applications include industrial wastewater processes that inherently have a high chlorine demand thereby requiring a more robust monitoring method.
-
LC-MS Analysis Of 33 PFAS Compounds In 5 Minutes11/4/2021
In response to environmental testing demands for faster LC-MS analyses, the new Ascentis® Express PFAS HPLC and delay columns allow the highly efficient separation of 33 PFAS compounds in 5 minutes with reduced background contamination.
-
Simplify And Optimize Your Process With Level And Pump Control3/1/2022
Level controllers have evolved to meet today’s environmental challenges and industry demands. Learn how they support improved process management and, ultimately, a better bottom line.
-
The Process Of Deionizing Water10/29/2021
Years ago, high purity water was used only in limited applications. Today, deionized (Dl) water has become an essential ingredient in hundreds of applications including: medical, laboratory, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, electronics manufacturing, food processing, plating, countless industrial processes, and even the final rinse at the local car wash.
-
LC-MS Analysis Of PFAS Compounds In EPA 533 After Supelclean™ ENVI-WAX SPE Cleanup8/29/2022
This application note demonstrates the extraction and subsequent analysis of 25 related analytes from water using Supelco SPE cartridges.
DRINKING WATER PRODUCTS
Xylem offers a comprehensive suite of pipeline assessment services designed to help utilities proactively manage infrastructure and reduce risk. By combining advanced inspection technologies, engineering expertise, and data-driven analytics, Xylem empowers pipeline owners to make informed decisions that extend asset life, improve reliability, and minimize capital expenditures. These services are tailored to address the full lifecycle of pipeline integrity—from risk planning to condition monitoring and long-term asset management.
Whether utilities are dealing with aging infrastructure, regulatory pressures, or budget constraints, Xylem’s assessment solutions provide the clarity and confidence needed to prioritize investments and prevent failures. With a focus on actionable insights, utilities can shift from reactive maintenance to strategic planning, ensuring safer, more resilient water and wastewater systems.
Xylem’s Core Assessment Service Solutions Include:
- System Risk Analysis & Planning - Develop a prioritized inspection strategy based on risk profiles and operational feasibility.
- Pipeline Inspection & Monitoring -Use advanced technologies to detect threats and assess pipeline condition in real time.
- Engineering & Advanced Analytics - Apply structural evaluations, predictive modeling, and performance forecasting to guide decision-making.
- Risk Mitigation & Asset Management - Translate condition data into actionable strategies for long-term pipeline reliability and investment planning.
- Force Main Management - Assess and manage high-risk force mains using specialized inspection tools and analytics.
- Inline Leak Detection - Identify and locate leaks with minimal disruption using free-swimming or tethered inspection platforms.
HYMAX GRIP® joins and restrains a wide selection of pipes of different types and diameters, easily and reliably. Due to its patented design, it allows the joining of pipes of the same or different materials and diameters and preventing axial pipe movement.
The EX-TEND® 200 joint is designed for pipelines that are subjected to expansion and contraction forces and is self restrained at full expansion.
Aclara’s water pressure monitoring solution leverages industry-leading Aclara RF network to provide near real-time monitoring of water pressure throughout your distribution network.
The WATERFLUX 3050 is an electromagnetic flowmeter (EMF) for basic water applications. It offers cost-effective flow measurement in applications where extremely high accuracy, extensive diagnostics or a wide range of digital communication options are not a priority. Its measuring tube with a rectangular and reduced cross-section enables a stable measurement even at low flow rates. Due to the optimized flow profile, the meter is practically independent of interferences from the installation environment. It can be installed virtually anywhere without straight inlet or outlet runs – behind pipe bends, slide valves or a reduction in the pipe.
The Series 1100 MEGALUG® Mechanical Joint Restraints effectively and economically restrain Ductile Iron Pipe (DIP) to mechanical joints above or below ground, for practically any application including valves, hydrants, and pipe. For use on all classes of ductile iron pipe (PC350 through PC150 and CL56 through CL50) without damage to the pipe or cement linings. It can also be used on steel pipe and cast iron pipe when joining to mechanical appurtenances, see product brochure for more details on these pipes.
LATEST INSIGHTS ON DRINKING WATER
-
![Water Drop with brain-GettyImages-481129858]( "When Drinking Water Raises Bigger Questions About Brain Health And Environmental Risk")
A new study linking certain groundwater sources to higher Parkinson’s risk underscores a broader question for the water sector: how environmental exposures in drinking water may influence long-term health.
-
![Water Treatment system for boiler station-GettyImages-914817776]( "Filtration Media For Municipal, Industrial, And Landscape Water Treatment: Legacy And Novel Technologies")
The growing demand for water across a variety of sectors combined with the increasingly understood complexity of emerging contaminants is creating a dynamic marketplace for filtration media. The goal of selecting the right filtration media is not to meet minimum standards but to achieve the right balance of performance, durability, and operational simplicity to ensure long-term compliance and cost-effective operation.
-
![GettyImages-1272611333]( "Ozone Formulas And Conversions")
Learn key ozone formulas, unit conversions, and measurement standards to accurately calculate generator output, concentration, and dosage for effective system design, performance verification, and safe operation.
-
![SaudiDesal-GettyImages-1139892550]( "Persian Gulf Desalination Plants Could Become Military Targets In Regional War")
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and neighboring countries in the Persian Gulf region use the fossil fuels under their desert lands not only to make money, but also to make drinking water. The petroleum they produce powers more than 400 desalination plants, which turn seawater into drinkable water. -
![chemical element Chromium-GettyImages-1376151842]( "From Compliance To Circularity: Rethinking Chromium Management In Chrome Tanning")
In an industrial landscape increasingly shaped by lifecycle accountability, material traceability, and rising disposal costs, chromium recovery is not merely a technical alternative — it is a strategic upgrade, where wastewater can become a resource stream. -
![GettyImages-1180604487 drought]( "Extreme Weather Is Transforming The World's Rivers. We Need New Ways To Protect Them")
Around the world, rivers are no longer changing gradually. Rather, they are being increasingly transformed by extreme climatic events such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves. A newly published global review finds these events are pushing ecosystems beyond their limits and eroding biodiversity and core functions.
DRINKING WATER VIDEOS
In this episode of The Water Online Show: On Location, our guest is Mike Blackburn from Hach. Mike dives into the benefits of panel-mounted solutions for water quality monitoring.
ABOUT DRINKING WATER
In most developed countries, drinking water is regulated to ensure that it meets drinking water quality standards. In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers these standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
Drinking water considerations can be divided into three core areas of concern:
- Source water for a community’s drinking water supply
- Drinking water treatment of source water
- Distribution of treated drinking water to consumers
Drinking Water Sources
Source water access is imperative to human survival. Sources may include groundwater from aquifers, surface water from rivers and streams and seawater through a desalination process. Direct or indirect water reuse is also growing in popularity in communities with limited access to sources of traditional surface or groundwater.
Source water scarcity is a growing concern as populations grow and move to warmer, less aqueous climates; climatic changes take place and industrial and agricultural processes compete with the public’s need for water. The scarcity of water supply and water conservation are major focuses of the American Water Works Association.
Drinking Water Treatment
Drinking Water Treatment involves the removal of pathogens and other contaminants from source water in order to make it safe for humans to consume. Treatment of public drinking water is mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. Common examples of contaminants that need to be treated and removed from water before it is considered potable are microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals and radionuclides.
There are a variety of technologies and processes that can be used for contaminant removal and the removal of pathogens to decontaminate or treat water in a drinking water treatment plant before the clean water is pumped into the water distribution system for consumption.
The first stage in treating drinking water is often called pretreatment and involves screens to remove large debris and objects from the water supply. Aeration can also be used in the pretreatment phase. By mixing air and water, unwanted gases and minerals are removed and the water improves in color, taste and odor.
The second stage in the drinking water treatment process involves coagulation and flocculation. A coagulating agent is added to the water which causes suspended particles to stick together into clumps of material called floc. In sedimentation basins, the heavier floc separates from the water supply and sinks to form sludge, allowing the less turbid water to continue through the process.
During the filtration stage, smaller particles not removed by flocculation are removed from the treated water by running the water through a series of filters. Filter media can include sand, granulated carbon or manufactured membranes. Filtration using reverse osmosis membranes is a critical component of removing salt particles where desalination is being used to treat brackish water or seawater into drinking water.
Following filtration, the water is disinfected to kill or disable any microbes or viruses that could make the consumer sick. The most traditional disinfection method for treating drinking water uses chlorine or chloramines. However, new drinking water disinfection methods are constantly coming to market. Two disinfection methods that have been gaining traction use ozone and ultra-violet (UV) light to disinfect the water supply.
Drinking Water Distribution
Drinking water distribution involves the management of flow of the treated water to the consumer. By some estimates, up to 30% of treated water fails to reach the consumer. This water, often called non-revenue water, escapes from the distribution system through leaks in pipelines and joints, and in extreme cases through water main breaks.
A public water authority manages drinking water distribution through a network of pipes, pumps and valves and monitors that flow using flow, level and pressure measurement sensors and equipment.
Water meters and metering systems such as automatic meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) allows a water utility to assess a consumer’s water use and charge them for the correct amount of water they have consumed.